Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder with 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The disorder occurs when the neurons which produce dopamine (the substantia nigra) die or become impaired causing tremors, rigidity and difficulty with balance.
It now seems that our reliance on chemical pesticides could be, in part, to blame. A newly released article in the Annals of Neurology reveals that exposure to pesticides may increase your long-term risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by as much as 70 percent.
The link can be found in earlier studies which connected pesticide exposure to abnormalities in motor function and decreased levels of dopamine. This newest research, conducted at Harvard, involved over 143,000 participants and shows the closest correlation to date. The specific chemical or combination of chemicals involved has not, as yet, been identified.
There is good news, though. As I mentioned in my previous article, It’s Never Too Late, scientists have also found that by switching to an organically based diet and chemical free gardening practices you can flush pesticide residues from your body within a short period of time. With evidence continuing to mount, why not start now?
